The Sanghiya Gathbandhan, or a federal alliance formed by the Madhesi and Janajati forces, continued its Kathmandu-centric protest on the third day on Monday, as cadres and leaders of the alliance staged demonstrations outside Singh Durbar.

The protest was largely peaceful with no violent incidents reported except an attack on two college students by the alliance cadres.

Protesters were mainly engaged in singing evocative songs, telling tales of social exclusion and cutting jokes on government, as they picketed the country’s administrative secretariat, turning the streets around Singha Durbar into a sort of a cultural venue.

“It reinforces the fact that the killings of protesters during the Tarai protest were orchestrated by the state. We are very much committed to keeping our protest peaceful,” said Rajendra Shrestha, general secretary of Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal, one of the constituents of the federal alliance.

In view of possible violent activities during the protest, the government has deployed security personnel in large numbers in the Capital.

Leaders of the federal alliance said that security personnel too had maintained restraint due to which the protest has remained peaceful. “It is hard to believe that the same security agency that would order its personnel to shoot at protesters has maintained restraint,” said a Madhesi leader.

The federal alliance has decided to picket the prime minister’s official residence in Baluwatar instead of Singha Durbar on Tuesday, the last day of the ongoing protest. The decision was taken after Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was found to be carrying out regular work from Baluwatar. The alliance is also planning to unveil more Kathmandu-centric protests. But there are some differing views within the alliance about whether to extend the protest outside the valley.

Supporters of Kathmandu-centric protest have been arguing on the need to give continuity to the ongoing protest, saying it is helping in garnering attention of the international community. They also argue that the protest has forced the government to maintain restraint.

Some other parties in the alliance, however, have been stressing on the need to decentralise the protest, saying the current protest is not enough to pressure the government.

Leaders of Tarai Madhesi Loktantrik Party and Sadbhawana Party have been proposing protests in the Tarai to create additional pressure on the government. The two parties are also not sure about the continued support from Janajati forces.

Leaders opposing an alliance with Janajati forces say the new alignment has overshadowed the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha, a group of seven Madhesi

parties, which initially spearheaded the protest demanding redrawing of provincial boundaries. They also claim that the federal alliance, a brainchild of Upendra Yadav, cannot last longer due to some conflicting demands of the two groups on state demarcation.

Madhesi parties have been demanding two provinces in the plains, parts of which some ethnic communities including Limbuwan, Magarat and Tharuwan, consider their territory.

Two students thrashed

KATHMANDU: Cadres affiliated to the federal alliance of Madhesi and Janajati forces that are protesting in the Capital thrashed two students on Monday, accusing them of being “vigilante”.

Prakash Adhikari and Ram Prasad Poudel, both from Argakhanchi district, were seriously injured in the attack.

Poudel has sustained a severe injury on his eye.

Poudel, who was rushed to Annapurna Neuro Hospital after the incident, was later sent to Tilganga Eye Hospital.

Adhikari, a bachelor’s student at Tri-Chandra Campus, and Poudel, who is pursuing his master’s in Shanker Dev Campus, live in Maitidevi.

According to Poudel, they were walking past the protesters when they were attacked. “The protesters started beating us with batons and helmets as we were walking on the footpath,” said Poudel. DSP Prajit KC, chief of Metropolitan Police Circle, Singha Durbar, said doctors have already discharged Poudel. No arrests have been made so far, said DSP KC.

What next

• Some leaders of alliance are for giving continuity to protest in Kathmandu
• Leaders of Tarai Madhesi Loktantrik Party (TMLP) and Sadbhawana Party (SP) have been calling for launching protests in the Tarai
• TMLP and SP leaders say the Madhesi forces’ alliance with Janajati parties has overshadowed the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha
• Some say their alliance with Janajati forces cannot last longer due to conflicting demands on state demarcation
• The federal alliance plans to unveil new programmes on Tuesday